This Gear Is The Next Best Thing To Actually Taking Your Kid To Comic-Con

If you and the kid are regular attendees of Comic-Con, the annual 4-day nerdfest celebrating all things sci-fi, fantasy, cosplay, exclusive toys, and real-life Peter Griffin lightsaber battles (why not?), you’ve probably already got a Batmobile Cozy Coupe in your garage. If, however, you’re putting together your first Con-semble, or just want to get in the spirit, here are 10 superhero supplies to inspire your young Jedi. And here’s a website where you can find this gear for yourself, because this site ain’t that.

Must Reads

Vans Toddler Star Wars Slip-On ShoesThe Comic-Con Exhibit Hall covers more than 460,000 square feet, so comfort is paramount, but so is attention to detail. Just ask any sci-fi writer who has sat on a panel getting grilled about plot holes they never knew existed. That’s why your kid’s getup must be on point, not just down to the shoes but down to a special message on the back for all the fanboys.Vans Toddler Star Wars Slip-On Shoes ($40)

Star Wars R2D2 On Patrol 16 BackpackMore than 40 years and 6 movies later (let’s not talk about TheClone Wars), the little trash can droid is still everyone’s favorite Star Wars character. That could change after BB-8 rolls his way into your heart this Christmas, but for now R2D2 was born to ride on your kid’s back just like he did for Luke back in the 70s.Star Wars R2D2 On Patrol 16 Backpack ($28)

Marvel Iron Man Hero HelmetTony Stark isn’t exactly known for putting safety first, but neither are kids. You know what both of them care about most of all? Being a badass superhero. That this helmet will protect your kid from all the swords and lightsabers being swung around is just a bonus.Marvel Iron Man Hero Helmet ($23)

AntimatterHomemade costumes be damned; all you need to wow an exhibition hall full of super fans is some clever packaging and pithy copy. Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. also makes a gallon can of Carbonated Future, so pick that up if you want to show convention-goers whether they’ll still be living in their mom’s basement in 10 years.Antimatter ($13)

Thermos Batman Cape Lunch BagIf George Costanza is to be believed, Superman is the only man in a cape you can trust. Costanza also loves a good sandwich, though, so maybe he’d make an exception for lunchboxes in capes. True to Caped Crusader mythology, this one even has a secret cooler compartment. It’s the Batcave of lunch bags.Thermos Batman Cape Lunch Bag ($31)

Lego Emmet HoodieIf you plan to take your kid to the DC Comics “Art Of The Brick” Lego panel, this is the perfect costume. It’s also the perfect costume because it doesn’t require the effort of most Comic-Con costumes, and also because Lego is one of the last bastions of Comic-Con that hasn’t been co-opted by adults (first bump to you, Minions).Lego Emmet Hoodie ($40)

Almost Daewon Song Joker Skateboard DeckBe honest, sometimes your kid is more Suicide Squad than Batman vs. Superman (both expected to make big splashes at this year’s event), so encourage them to terrorize a skatepark instead of your living room with this deck. Or can you really not embrace the bad guys? Why so serious?Almost Daewon Song Joker Skateboard Deck ($53)

Green Lantern Infant SnapsuitWhat’s that? Your super power is you have a magic ring? Cool story, Frodo. Nobody really likes the Green Lantern, but the color looks great on your kid, the logo is kind of cool, and they’ll grow out of it by the time Comic-Con ends anyway, so put this on them and use the ring to conjure up a deflector shield against all those nerds saying you should have bought the Flash one instead.Green Lantern Infant Snapsuit ($23)

Western Chief Superman Forever RaincoatThere’s no rain in the forecast around San Diego this week, but once you get home there will come a time when your little Man of Steel is going to leap into a large puddle in a single bound.Western Chief Superman Forever Raincoat ($50)

Darth Vader And SonNever before has the Sith Lord been so adorable. Jeffrey Brown gives the whole Star Wars gang the Sunday comics treatment in this and other books that call to mind classics ranging from Family Circus to Muppet Babies and Goodnight Moon. Vader And Son shines new light on the Dark Side and prove that even the most powerful men have been worn out by their kids since a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.Darth Vader And Son ($8)